H-E-B Science Treehouse

San Antonio, TX

Designed as a dynamic and playful learning lab for children, this science education building stands at the edge of the San Antonio River on the Witte Museum’s 4.5-acre campus. The stone walls, arches and tile roofs echo features of the museum’s main building. Added cupolas, spires, crenellations, a prow-like balcony, and gangplanks leading to a two-story treehouse were inspired by WPA structures in the adjacent Brackenridge Park. The plan incorporates hands-on science stations, experiments, and river-fed outdoor water exhibits, fostering knowledge in a creative and engaging environment where the interior spaces lead naturally to the treehouse and riverside.Photography: Hester+Hardaway & Lake|Flato